Profit Warne-ing888 was full of the joys of spring yesterday after announcing that fourth-quarter profit was up 14 per cent and that the Gibraltar-based operator was lining up some mystery mergers, but while those figures were undoubtedly good, their poker site continues to suffer. Total operating income from poker for 2009 was $52 million, down 30% on the $74 million generated in 2008 – and there ain’t nothing anyone can do about it. Not even Shane Warne. Read more.

CalvinAyre.com girls at Fire and IceAnother week of iGaming carnage is over. We are all resting our livers as we busy ourselves with follow ups after the very successful IGE and LAC shows in London. I love that the industry embodies the “Work hard, play hard” ethos – an expression at the heart of Calvin Ayre’s BodogBrand. I don’t know another industry like us that puts enormous energy into meetings, networking, visiting stands, working the stands and then we STILL know how to party it up until the wee hours of the morning. Speaking of which, thanks to everyone that organised...

It's the Realex dealRealex Payments has secured a major three-year contract to support one of the world’s leading online gaming giants, Cryptologic, which manages payments for 300 online casino titles, including including PartyGaming, 888.com and Virgin Games. The deal with Cryptologic involves Realex Payments providing payment processing for Cryptologic across a variety of currencies, regions and card types, acting as a gateway service to its card-acquiring partners. Read more.

Would you like to see your beautiful self on camera? Well, I have some great news…you’ve got SEVEN chances to make it happen in London. Beginning on the eve of Monday, 25 January, I will be hitting a gaming event with the CalvinAyre.com camera crew every single night for one week straight. Some events are black tie awards, some are official conference parties, one is an afternoon beer session, most are free to attend, and every single one of them is fun, so I better see you there!Monday night, 25 January International Gaming Awards When: 7pm Where: Millennium Gloucester Hotel Purchase your...

Seeing as two huge events are coming up this month, I had a chat with iGB Affiliate Awards and LAC organizer, Alex Pratt, aka my “industry boyfriend”. Relax!! I’m kidding, and is wife is in on the joke too. Seriously though, during our conversation, Alex revealed what we can expect during the 2010 Affiliate Awards and covered the LAC highlights such as numbers of attendees expected, where they are from, details on the venue, “must attend” sessions, details on the ASOP, and of course, the networking parties.Can we discuss that there are SEVEN official parties taking place over...

Shay Ben-Yitzhak has left the companyOne of the longest established and best known companies in the online gambling industry, 888.com, has announced the departure of one of its founding directors. Following the recent death of co-founder Aharon Shaked, non-Executive director Shay Ben-Yitzhak has decided to devote more time to his family. Read more.

On Saturday, January 2nd, Aharon Shaked, co-founder of igaming industry giant 888.com, was reported dead due to illness. Aharon and his brother Avi founded 888.com in 1995 after mortgaging their homes to fund their new business venture. Aharon came into the igaming world as a dentist and leaves as an igaming industry icon that no one will ever forget. Read more.

An expensive Wink888 today splashed out £60m on an online bingo business founded less than two years ago. 888 will pay Wink Bingo owners Daub Limited up to £59.7 million for the business which includes online brands Posh Bingo and Bingo Fabulous. The deal follows the takeover of the Foxy Bingo and Think Bingo businesses by 888’s rival PartyGaming in a deal worth nearly £100m in July. Read more.

888, Spin Palace and William Hill Casino have just been reviewed as the UK’s most visible casino websites. New research has shown that UK web users come across these three sites most often, with 888 leading the pack. It’s the only one of the three to show up on a a user’s first search page at least 50% of the time. What can you do? SEO is one competitive b*tch. Read more…

888 have gone to great lengths to go green“Conducting our business responsibly is fundamental to our future success,” said Gigi Levy, chief executive officer of 888 following the first Corporate Responsibility Report released recently. Read More.